The nominees for the 8th Sun FM Kwacha Music Awards 2026 have officially been unveiled, setting the stage for one of Zambia’s biggest celebrations of music and creative talent.
This year’s nominations feature some of the country’s biggest established names alongside emerging artists, producers, gospel musicians, groups and regional talent. Artists from all 10 provinces are represented, while the national categories recognise achievements in music, collaborations, production, gospel, humanitarian work and international success.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for Friday, November 27, 2026, at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka. The red carpet is scheduled to begin at 18:00hrs, followed by the main ceremony at 19:00hrs.
Among the artists making a notable impact across the nominations is Yo Maps, who appears in several major categories, including Best Artist (Male), Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Mainstream Song (Pop), Best R&B/Afro Fusion Song, Best Dancehall/Reggae Song, Most Conscious Song, Best International Achievement and Humanitarian Award.
Other major names featured across the nominations include Chef 187, Chile One, T-Sean, Dizmo, Slapdee, Xaven, Towela Kaira, Mampi, Sampa The Great, Pompi, 76 Drums, Jae Cash, Kayz Adams, Drimz, Roberto, Bombshell and Macky 2, among many others.
Provincial Categories
The Kwacha Music Awards have once again maintained their focus on regional representation, with artists competing for Best Artist in each of Zambia’s 10 provinces.
Full List of 2026 Kwacha Music Awards Nominees
PROVINCIAL CATEGORIES
Best Artist – Central Province
- Ama Sweet Dondo
- Bad Boy Shezy
- Born Vicious
- Brokenhill Emmy
- Shadrek
- Young Trexy
Best Artist – Copperbelt Province
- B Quan Phamaika
- Bloodkid YVOK
- JC Kalinks
- Landmark Sounds
- Mizzy C
- Mwana Kalampa
- T-Low
Best Artist – Luapula Province
- Born Bugah
- Jay Nazo
- Kam Charles
- Knack Unity
- Machete
- PLK Wise
Best Artist – North Western Province
- B Rox
- Boy Kay Naneka Fye
- Cox
- J.M Blue Spec
- Kell Cee Zambia
- Mighty C
Best Artist – Southern Province
- Black Marck
- Kadas
- Mizi Wayne
- Mordecai
- Raycie
- Rockstone
Best Artist – Eastern Province
- Alifatiq
- Chile 84
- Chimzy Kelly
- DJ Ndunwa
- KD Giza
- Molto Zambia
Best Artist – Lusaka Province
- 76 Drums
- Frank Ro
- Kayz Adams
- Minister Temwani
- Miss Wizzy
- Shoki Mwana Chibolya
- Y-Cool
Best Artist – Muchinga Province
- Afri Boy
- Celeb City
- Emmy 3
- Happy K
- Rock G Zambia
- Shushushu
Best Artist – Northern Province
- Andyzoh
- Jean Ubusaka
- King G2
- Kiss B Sai Baba
- Muzo Aka Alphonso
- Newman
Best Artist – Western Province
- Jah Bwoy
- Kasy Nalu
- Mumble Jumble
- O’Nelly
- Ozone Africa
- Y-Coasty
MAIN CATEGORIES
Best Music Producer
Ben Blazer, C-Mak, Icon Mu Speaker, Killa Beats, King Nachi Beats, Kingtec, Melar Beats, T-Sean, Witty Beats.
Humanitarian Award
Abel Chungu, B-Flow, Dizmo, Macky 2, Maiko Zulu, Mampi, Pompi, Wezi, Yo Maps.
Best International Achievement
Cleo Ice Queen, El Mukuka, Mampi, Pompi, Roberto, Sampa The Great, Yo Maps.
Best Folk / Indigenous Song
- 40 Ngombe – 76 Drums ft Chanda Na Kay & Shanga
- Biwacha – Kadas
- Isambi – Chester
- Mpyango – Shirtless Boys
- Munibulae – Y-Coasty
- Tutu – James Sakala ft Chef 187 & Caitlin De Ville
- Ubwafya – Afunika
- Umwinko – Mumba Yachi
Best Newcomer (Female)
Chicheba Aree, Faith Kalaba, Kunda, Kutowa, Nyarai, Tina Selemani, Zian SZ.
Best Newcomer (Male)
Boy Kay, Dreckzine, Mizzy C, Mwana Kalampa, Way Dee, Y-Cool, Young Trexy.
Best Dancehall / Raggae Song
- Gweh (WYFL Riddim) – T-Sean
- Mulilo – Milz ft Massa Xrossfyah, Ras Aka & Admiral P
- Pressure – Miss Wizzy ft Vinchenzo
- Sling Dat – Mikrophone 7
- U Mek Mi – Gabriel GS
- Ukutalala – DJ Cosmo
- Weka – Bombshell ft Yo Maps
- Zambian Dancehall Kuchalo – Petersen
Best R&B / Afro Fusion Song
- It’s Over – Yo Maps
- Konkosha – T-Low ft Jae Cash
- Oh Baby – JC Kalinks ft Slap Dee
- One and Only – Nyarai ft Y-Cool
- Ready – Mordecai ZM
- Sober – Roberto
- Stay – T-Sean ft Xaven
- Virgo – Warren Mills
Best Hip Hop / Rap Song
- Abo – Slapdee ft Dizmo & Kayz Adams
- Gang Affiliated – Jae Cash, Dizmo & Y-Cool
- Ku Bar – D Bwoy Telem ft Chef 187, Xaven & Jay Rox
- Mukaninga – King Illest ft 76 Drums
- One Fight – Zone Fam
- Shadow Boxing – Chef 187
- Simon Says – Sampa The Great
- Sky Pombe – Y-Cool ft Dreckzine, Shokii & Trendy Kidai
Best Mainstream Song (Pop)
- 40 Ngombe – 76 Drums ft Chanda Na Kay & Shanga
- Aye – Nez Long ft Xaven & Yo Maps
- Ba Neighbor – Chile One Mr Zambia
- Beauty Station – 76 Drums ft JC Kalinks
- Chingelengle – Drimz ft Chile One
- It’s Over – Yo Maps
- My Man My Man – Vinchenzo ft Towela Kaira
- Sober – Roberto
Best Gospel Song (Female)
- Amalaila Kumwine Wabubumbo – Janet JMK
- Calvary – Medoreen Besa
- Christine Nkole – Tataswele
- Endeni – Racheal Nanyangwe
- Final Say – Theresa Mubonda
- IKA – Minister Temwani
- Makafye Yakwe – Faith Kalaba
- Ubunje – Chileshe Bwalya ft Mag44
Best Gospel Song (Male)
- Ba Yaweh – Tio Nason
- Ishina Lyenu – Anointed Musonda
- Joy of the Lord – Mag44 ft Tim & Julian Roberts
- Shimwili – Pompi ft Tasha Nyambe & VOH
- Soft Life – Abel Chungu
- The Blood – Washy Mtambo
- Ubukata – Joshua Nankwe Nankwe
- Yesu Ni Boss – Kings Malembe
Most Conscious Song
- Amapalo – Mwanaka Kalampa ft D Bwoy, King Kizo & MSH Tyga
- Balupwa – Young Trexy ft Triple M & Chile One
- Chafina – Yo Maps ft Muzo Alphonso
- Destiny – Chile One
- God Is Good – Macky 2
- Katek(a) Umusuma – Triple M ft Reuben
- Petersen – Mwana Mungono
- Tulo – Kayz Adams ft Jae Cash
Best Collaboration
- Asante – Slapdee & Dizmo ft Dreckzine
- Aye – Nez Long ft Xaven & Yo Maps
- Ba Neighbor (Remix) – Chile One ft Harmonize & Onesimus
- Beauty Station – 76 Drums ft JC Kalinks
- Finish – Jay Rox ft Way Dee
- It’s Over – Yo Maps ft Makadzi
- My Man My Man – Vinchenzo ft Towela Kaira
- Weka – Bombshell ft Yo Maps
Best Duo / Group
Abena Swanky T, Celeb City, Chanda Na Kay, Dope Boys, HD Empire, Jay Trigga & Ari, Peace Preachers, Zone Fam.
Best Band
Amayenge Band, Barotse Band, Mo Fire Band, Sansamukeni Band, Shirtless Boys, The Glorious Band.
Best Choir
Busokololo Choir, Defense and Security Choir, Faithful Melodies, Good Shephard Choir, Holy Angels Choir, Kitwe Central Church Choir, Mount Sinai, Voice of Praise.
Gospel Album of the Year
- God Sound – Tio Nason
- Kamitsha – Costa Chibwe
- Not By Sight – Eddie Black
- Pempela – Elijah Aka Zambia
- The Way – Mag44
Best Artist (Male)
76 Drums, Chef 187, Chile One, Dizmo, Drimz, Pompi, T-Sean, Yo Maps.
Best Artist (Female)
Bombshell Grenade, Mampi, Medoreen Besa, Rockstone, Sampa The Great, Tianna, Towela Kaira, Xaven.
Song of the Year
- Asante – Slapdee & Dizmo ft Dreckzine
- Aye – Nez Long ft Xaven & Yo Maps
- Ba Neighbor – Chile One
- Beauty Station – 76 Drums ft JC Kalinks
- Hello – Yo Maps
- It’s Over – Yo Maps ft Makadzi
- Mpeniko Finile – Dizmo ft Reuben
- My Man My Man – Vinchenzo ft Towela Kaira
Album of the Year
- Destiny – Chile One
- God Sound – Tio Nason
- So Cha Cha Toa – Petersen
- Still Waters – T-Sean
- The Way – Mag44
- Vibes on Vibes – Yo Maps
- Witina – Kayz Adams
